Zoya looked at the clock. "Oh my goodness, it is almost 6.30 and if I don't reach home by 7, Jahapanah will have a panic attack". She paid to the shop owner and ran to catch the auto. "Auto" she screamed when she spotted one and ran, tripped on something, only to be caught by someone. When she looked up to see what had happened, she was staring into a pair of amused eyes. "Tum" both said together. "Raabert", "Mona", "Can't you walk properly?", "Can't you hold me properly? Leave me?" followed by a thud and Zoya was on the ground.
"What kind of a person are you Raabert? You made me fall." Zoya got up dusting her jeans and wincing with a pain. "I did what you told me to do Mona. Don't blame me. By the way, why were you running?" came the reply from Ayaan. "What else to do? Your Bhaijaan is going to eat me alive if I reach home after 7. He is still in 17th century. Anyway, I have to rush, bye" Zoya took two steps and came back "But Ayaan, is Humeria okay after what happened that day? I still don't know how all that horrible thing happened. I am so sorry Ayaan for ruining your engagement. I didn't do anything" she almost had tears in her eyes.
"Arre Don't worry. Humeira begum is fine. In fact, I haven't gone home after that incident. I have been talking to her on the phone though. She is fine. Accha Mona, doesn't look like you are going to get any auto now. Come, I will drop you home. That is if you are not scared of riding the bike with me" He smirked. "Me, scared of bikes? You must have gone nuts. Chalo, let's go. Your bike riding skills can't be scarier than facing akdu ahmed khan if I reached home after 7" with that, she followed him to where his bike was parked.
"Raabert, careful. Why are you riding the bike like a formula 1 race car driver? I want to be alive till my nikah day, you know. If something happens to me, who will marry your bhaijaan" Zoya went on bickering about how rash Ayaan's bike riding is. As soon as Ayaan heard the word 'nikah', bike came to a screeching halt in the middle of the street.
"Nikah? You are getting married to my Bhaijaan? " Ayaan started laughing hysterically. "Why? What is wrong with that? Am I that bad Ayaan?" Hurt was visible on Zoya's face. "No, No Mona. You are not bad. You two are just very different. I cannot imagine you and bhaijaan as husband and wife. That's all" Ayaan started the bike again "Chalo, this is good. At least he is getting married before me the way it should be". Rest of the bike journey was spent in silence since Ayaan was a little careful this time. He didn't want anything to happen to his 'Bhabhi' with the fear that he will have to face 'mukka ahmed khan' and his temper.
Bike stopped in front of Khan mansion. Asad, who was getting frustrated that Zoya had not yet come back was looking out the window from his room. When he saw Zoya getting off the bike, jealousy rose like fire and he reached the door in no time. Zoya was thanking Ayaan and asking if he wanted to come inside and meet his bhaijaan. The door opened and Zoya turned to face a steaming red faced Asad.
"Now you have started riding on stranger's bikes? This is not NY Ms.Farooqui, what will people say? now that you are engaged to me, you are spoiling my reputation". Ayaan parked the bike and removed the helmet "Assalamalekum Bhaijaan, I met Mona in the market and she couldn't find any auto. So thought of dropping her home. By the way, congratulations on your engagement Bhaijaan".
Zoya glared at Asad and turned back to Ayaan. "Do you want to come in and eat dinner with us Raabert?" to which Ayaan replied "Yes, sure. I am really hungry." He followed Zoya and Asad had no other option but to follow them inside the house. "Good Evening Phupi, look who I brought home for dinner – Raab sorry Ayaan". Dilshaad asked Najma to set one more plate for Ayaan on the table.
Tanveer came to the kitchen and said "Khala, I am not feeling good. I don't want to eat dinner. I will just drink milk and go to bed" before Dilshaad could say anything, she was distracted by Ayaan "Badi Ammi, what is this? You made your akdu son get engaged with mona darling? I wondered how it can happen since these two fight all the time and they are so much different from each other" "That is what I have been telling Khala that Jammy and Zoya are not good for each other. They are very different and Zoya's tehzeeb does not suit Jammy" chided Tanveer not missing the opportunity. Ayaan was irritated and so was Asad. But Asad couldn't say anything to his best friend. Could he? This was witnessed by Zoya who had just entered the kitchen after changing into her night suit. Ayaan looked at her and then told Tanveer. "Tehzeeb is not in how a person dresses up. It is in their heart, how they react to others. Mona might be totally different from Bhaijaan, but they are alike in one thing. If they love someone, they will not hesitate to even give their life for the person." Ayaan turned towards Dilshaad and said "Badi Ammi, You couldn't have found a better girl for Bhaijaan than Mona darling. She cares so much about all of you and is a perfect fit for bhaijaan" Zoya had tears in her eyes when she heard such a sweet thing from her to be devar. "Thank you Raabert. You are so sweet, come let's have dinner".
Everyone sat and started eating. Tanveer lingered in the area with a glass of milk. She was fuming. Nobody had given her any importance. Ayaan was in a teasing mood and he said to his bhaijaan "Bhaijaan, won't you give me a party for your engagement or you will give me a bigger one after the nikah?" .
"Ayaan, I don't know when Asad will give you a party, but I will give you one after I have had a grand child" Dilshaad joined in teasing. Zoya turned red and she stole a glance of Asad. He was uncomfortable she could see. Before she could say something to ease the tension, Ayaan blurted "Mona darling, when you have your kid, you should let me name him/her" to which Zoya blurted without even thinking "That is not possible Raabert. Among four of our kids that we are going to have, girl's name is already decided. It will be Zainaab after my ammi. The rest 3 boys will be named by Phuppi, your bhaijaan and Najma. They will name one each. So, if I have to let you name one of our children, I will have to have one more child. " Everyone was looking at Zoya with a shocked expression. Asad started coughing. "Oho Mona darling. You already know you are having 4 kids with my bhaijaan? And 3 boys and a girl?" Ayaan couldn't control his laughter. How innocent was this girl? "Have you left any work for me at least with your kids?" he asked.
"Definitely, you are the one who is going to teach all my boys how to date and romance a girl. If I let them follow the foot steps of your bhaijaan, I will end up fixing their marriage just like Phuppi did and you can't find too many Zoyas in the world, right?" Ayaan controlled his laughter to say "Bhaijaan, Mona darling" to be interrupted by Asad "Ayaan, call her Bhabhi like Tamatar does. No more Mona darling".
Dilshaad had a big smile on her face. She couldn't have gotten a better girl to light up their house and make it a home. She affectionately looked at her son who was staring at Zoya as if the rest of the world didn't exist. Her akdu son had finally come to terms with his heart.
Tell me how you like it please.
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